Fly-half Charlie Hodgson lit up a scrappy affair by scoring 20 points, including the first of six Sharks tries to put Kingsley Jones' men on their way in Pool Four at Edgeley Park.

Second half tries from Frenchman Sebastien Chabal, Steve Hanley, Chris Mayor and two from Richard Wigglesworth rounded off a convincing night's work.

The home side took an early lead through the boot of Hodgson, who scored two penalties in a tight opening quarter played out in windy conditions.

But the home side's six-point lead lasted only four minutes when Sale and England prop Andrew Sheridan was caught with his hands in a ruck.

Montpellier full-back Mark McHugh took full advantage and got the visitors, who had not won away from home in 35 matches, on the scoresheet with a long-range penalty.

And the former Connacht man levelled the scores with his second long-distance goal four minutes before the interval.

Hodgson kicked his third goal before scoring the first try of the match on the stroke of half-time. He started and finished a terrific move after taking Mark Cueto's pass to end the match as a contest.

Sale Sharks 49
Tries: Hodgson, Chabal, Hanley, Mayor, Wigglesworth (2)
Con: Hodgson (3), Thomas (2)
Pen: Hodgson (3)

Montpellier 6
Pen: McHugh (2)

Challenge Cup Man of the Match: Charlie Hodgson (Sale)

Sale Sharks: B Foden; M Cueto, E Seveali'i, L Thomas, S Hanley; C Hodgson, R Wigglesworth; A Sheridan, S Bruno, S Turner, I Fernandez Lobbe (capt), S Cox, J White, J Fernandez Lobbe, S Chabal.

Replacements: N Briggs, B Bourrust, D Schofield, N Bonner-Evans, S Martens, C Mayor, C Bell.

Montpellier: M McHugh; O Sarraméa, R Lubbe, G Rees, F Welsch; F Trinh Duc, S Buada; P Toleafoa, O Diomandé (capt), C Baïocco, M Macurdy, D Hancke, S Galtier, F Ouedraogo, D Chouchan.

Replacements: J Caudullo, E Van Staden, M Bert, L Picamoles, J Tomas, M Taele, F Todeschini.

Referee: Carlo Damasco (Italy)